Δ5-Androstenediol: Kinetics of Metabolism and Binding to Plasma Proteins in Normal Men and Women1

Using the constant infusion and single injection technique the metabolic clearance rates (mean ± SEM) for Δ5-androstene-3β,17β-diol (Δ5-diol) were measured for 19 normal men (1311 ± 67 1/24 h) and 10 normal women (858 ± 63 1/24 h). The constant infusion technique yielded values for the conversion ratios for the transformation of Δ5-diol to several products: dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)/Δ5-diol of 0.06 ± 0.01 for men and 0.05 ± 0.01 for women, of Δ5-diol sulfate/Δ5-diol of 0.45 ± 0.04 for men and 0.52 ± 0.03 for women and of DHEA sulfate/Δ5-diol of 5.53 ± 0.26 for men and 5.02 ± 0.42 for women. The single injection technique yielded rate constants (units) and volumes of distribution (liters) for Δ5-diol; K1 = 34.3 ± 4.3 for men and 35.0 ± 3.9 for women, K2 = 63.7 ± 4.1 for men and 75.1 ± 4.2 for women, V1 = 23.1 ± 3.2 for men and 11.9 ± 2.3 for women, V2 = 14.8 ± 3.7 for men and 9.2 ± 3.2 for women. The mean Δ5-diol plasma concentration was 1.08 ± 0.10 ng/ml for 12 men and 1.17 ± 0.16 ng/ml for 9 women. T...